Big Dig Materials Failure

proper warning was given concerning the epoxy used in the BIG DIG so how can one company be targeted for this. why not focus on the contractors and personel involved in this. they were warned and advised to wait for the proper material to become available. if this was done this incident would not have happened. HUMAN error is at fault not faulty product.

Three months have passed since the previous post, and there is still no explanation of why the tunnel ceiling was made of heavy concrete panels. Many posts have dealt with ideas to hold them in place better, but none have answered the more basic question.

I'm not sure which aspect of this bugs me more--the engineering decision to incorporate heavy concrete "ceilings" that are apparently non-structural, that could very well have been lightweight sheet metal or composites, or the blantant ligation to extract millions more the taxpayers for this tragedy. Go fgure.

Glue to hold up a multi ton panel, what could go wrong.

It is all lack of leadership...believe me

According to a Boston Herald article today, top federal transporation officials are raising concerns about the adequacy of the Big Dig safety review. The Dept. of Transportation's acting inspector general sent a letter to members of the state's congressional delegation expressing concern that the "safety audit of all tunnels" ordered by the Legislature could overlook important items. He says there's a need to test ramps, roadways and bridges, as well as the underground portion of the project and necesssary tests on mechanical and electrical systems such as the ventilation and fire-control equipment, as well as security procedures and emergency-response communications. I fear this may bring to light even more issues that have yet to be determined, while officials are still working to fix problems which caused the deadly July 10 accident. Not to mention the subsequent problem areas throughout the project discovered during the investigation weeks later.

This wasn't the first time a tunnel was built. Where were all the "Professionals"? The code enforcement, quality, safety & engineering professionals whose responsibility it was to ensure the integrity of the project? Looks like the tunnel wasn't the only thing covered up.

I am aghast at this news. Secondly, I am also aware of the labour situation in the Boston area. I am also aware of the contraversy surrounding the Big Dig. I would only like to advise PE's to be careful what they post on the web. Let's not forget that the US have more lawyers per capita than any other nation on earth. Your comments may become ammunition and you may find yourself on the witness stand. Yes, what happened is a tragedy. They happen from time to time. Engineers are not above making mistakes. Contractors are known to cut corners. It's not a healthy situation, however, it rarely results in death. When it does, the parties involved need to have their licenses stripped away, put out of business, just as it happenned in Kansas City. Engineers ought not get involved unless they are asked. It is also shameful to hide behind an alias to sling arrows. If you have something to say, follow proper channels. These rants further erode our credibility. We need to close ranks, not pour salt on open wounds.

To what extent is the same epoxy bolt system used in other construction projects and are inspections in progress in other cities?

Excellent diagram from the Boston Globe: boston.com/ news /traffic/ bigdig/ articles/ 2006/07/28/ bolt_system_graphic/ Put the Internet address back together by taking out the spaces. (The comment system does not allow posting links.)

Where is there a diagram of what failed?

I would like to ask this question: Where was the backup system? Was there one and why didn't it work? Ever go to a TV studio? All of the equipment in the light grid on the ceiling is bolted to the bars, AND also clasped with a small bit of cable to keep the lights and such from falling to the floor if the bolts fail.

Check this out there was a story in Wednesday's Boston Globe which says, apparently an onsite safety officer on the project for the I-90 connector directly warned his superivisors at Modern Continental Constructin back in 1999 that the tunnel ceiling could collapse because the bolts could not support the heavy concrete panels, and feared for his conscience if someone died as a result. Now that's telling ...

The more I think about it - the more I'm wondering was it just materials failure or a combination of human error along with it? Afterall, if engineers and contractors were vigilant about the materials they were using, wouldn't that make the difference? What materials or different version of materials used would have made the difference?